In July 2023, the Ca' Rezzonico Museum in Venice will dedicate a special exhibition to the exceptional artist entitled 'Lino Tagliapietra. The colors of glass'.

'It's part of my culture, my brain, my blood.'

We are pleased to offer three vases signed as 'Test Piece' by Lino Tagliapietra from an important private collection in our upcoming auction.

The 1980s were a particularly stimulating period for the glass master, marked by travel and exchange with other artists. A decade in which he became aware of the potential of glass as a medium for art. The works offered here visualize this impressively.

The vase 'American Flag' was created in 1984 in collaboration with Marina Angelin. The young psychiatrist and the experienced glass master developed some of the most successful designs for the Effetre International manufactory between 1982 and 1986. According to the manufacturer, only three copies of the design exist.

Stars and Stripes - the decor not only pays homage to the American flag, it also represents the cross-cultural collaborations Tagliapietra entered into with many fellow American and international artists during this period.

Without knowing a word of English, Tagliapietra taught traditional techniques of Muranese glass art to graduates of the Pilchuck School in Stanwood, Washington, beginning in 1979. Although artists had left the island to work independently before him, Tagliapietra was the first to receive wide international recognition and, in particular, had a major impact on the American studio glass movement.

Tagliapietra created a large number of test pieces that reflected his tireless curiosity and penchant for experimentation. Often it was the high technical cost that prevented mass production in many cases. It remained with individual pieces or a handful of variations.